

No. They want to take away a martyr.
How long is the average stay on death row?
And how long is the memory of the average american voter?
You and me will have moved on to the next battle and ten other battles by the time they shoot him. Collective memory will have other priorities and we will forget.
Thats the trick. The appeals process alone takes so long that you will either be completely lost by that point, or your disinterest shouting support for fifteen other vigilantes, that it wont matter.
If they convict, hes fucked. Hes not a martyr. Hes a statistic. And thats how they convince the next one not to do it. You are not joan of ark. History will treat you not as a savior, but as a wildcard random… So why bother? A healthcare ceo is not franz ferdinand.
We arent there yet…
“Life without parole” vs “the death penalty” hold a different connotation for the average person.
Its about perception. Not logic.
The death penalty had never really made sense for 80 years. Basically ever since we eliminated firing squads or the guillotine. Ever since we said, “guilty, kill em now, move on”
But we hold execution in a much higher regard. The death penalty is certain. Life in prison… well thats ambiguous. We are still fighting a culture war on the death penalty for literal decades now, despite the fact that it makes absolutely zero difference to anyone not directly involved in the crime.
The actual, logical, real world difference is minimal. But if you want to send a message. Well then, the perception is magnificent.
Sentenced to death has meaning. Until you drag it out so long everyone forgets.